Shin guard with three dimensional image element

ABSTRACT

A shin guard includes a protective plate having a front face and a rear face. The rear face is contoured to fit around a shin of a wearer of the shin guard. Further, the shin guard includes a three dimensional image element carried on the front face. This image element projects an image outline through a sock worn over the shin guard.

This document is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/050,439 filed on Oct. 10, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/723,177 filed on Nov. 6, 2012, and 61/755,208 filed on Jan. 22, 2013. Further, this document claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/936,988 filed on Feb. 7, 2014. The full disclosure of each of these documents is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the sports equipment field and, more particularly, to soccer shin guards including a three dimensional image element for projecting a desired image outline.

BACKGROUND

Soccer players commonly wear shin guards in order to protect their shins from contact during soccer practice and matches. This document relates to a shin guard that incorporates a three dimensional image element which projects an image outline of a desired shape, such as a player number or team logo, that enhances the team uniform.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a shin guard is provided. That shin guard comprises a protective plate having a front face and a rear face. The rear face is contoured to fit around the shin of a wearer of the shin guard. Further, the shin guard includes a three dimensional image element carried on the front face of the protective plate.

That image element may take on any desired shape. In one possible embodiment, the image element is in the shape of a player number. In another possible embodiment, the image element is in the shape of a logo.

In one possible embodiment, the three dimensional image element is tapered outwardly from a central area toward an outer edge so that the central area projects a greater distance from the front face than does the outer edge. For many images, this contouring enhances the image produced by the image element through a sock covering.

In one possible embodiment, the shin guard includes a fastener for securing the protective plate to the shin of the wearer. That fastener may take the form of a strap. That strap may include a hook and loop fastener. In other embodiments, the fastener may take the form of a sleeve of elastic material.

In one possible embodiment, the shin guard further includes an ankle pad depending from the protective plate so as to overlie the ankle when the shin guard is being worn. In one possible embodiment, the shin guard further includes a foot loop for securing the shin guard around a foot below the protective plate.

In one possible embodiment, the three dimensional image element is a discrete body releasably attached to the front face of the protective plate. Thus, for example, the three dimensional image element may be attached to the front face by a hook and loop fastener. In another possible embodiment, the three dimensional image element is a discrete body secured to the front face by an adhesive. In yet another possible embodiment, the three dimensional image element is integrally formed as a permanent part of the protective plate as a single piece construction.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the shin guard. As it should be realized, the shin guard is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the shin guard as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the shin guard and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a shin guard including the protective plate and a three dimensional image element carried on the front face of the protective plate.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one possible embodiment of the shin guard showing how the protective plate is contoured to fit around the shin of a wearer and further showing a strap with optional hook and loop fastener extending around the calf and fastening the shin guard over the shin of the wearer.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 but showing an alternative embodiment incorporating an elastic sleeve fastener instead of the strap.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment of the shin guard including a protective plate, an elastic sleeve, an ankle pad and a foot loop for securing the shin guard at the bottom to the foot of the wearer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the tapering of a three dimensional image element from an area of greatest height or thickness at a central portion thereof to an area of the lowest height or thickness at an outer edge thereof.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the shin guard, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating a first embodiment of a shin guard 10. As illustrated, the shin guard 10 includes a protective plate 12 and a three dimensional image element 14 carried on the front face 16 of the protective plate. The protective plate 12 may comprise, for example, a molded piece of high strength plastic material.

As illustrated in the FIG. 2 embodiment, the shin guard 10 is worn to protect the shin S of a player from contact injury. Toward this end, the rear face 18 of the protective plate 12 is contoured to fit around the shin S of the wearer. The protective plate 12 is secured overlying the shin S by a strap 20 that is connected at its ends to opposite sides of the protective plate 12 and extends around behind the calf C of the wearer. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap 20 includes an adjustable hook and loop fastener 22. In other embodiments, the strap 20 may simply be a continuous strap of elastic material.

In the embodiment of shin guard 10 illustrated in FIG. 3, the protective plate 12 is held in proper position overlying the shin S by means of a sleeve 24 of elastic material. As should be appreciated, that sleeve 24 extends continuously around the calf C from each side of the protective plate 12. In this embodiment, the shin guard 10 is pulled on over the foot like a sock.

In the embodiment of shin guard 10 illustrated in FIG. 4, the protective plate 12 is held in position over the shin S by an elastic sleeve 24 just as illustrated in FIG. 3. In addition, the shin guard 10 includes an ankle pad 26 depending downwardly towards the foot from the protective plate 12 and sleeve 24. In addition, an elastic foot loop 28 extends from the ankle pad 26 around the foot F of the wearer. An athletic sock AS overlies the shin guard 10 and the image element 14 forms an image outline 25 in the sock.

As should be appreciated, all of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 include the three dimensional image element 14. The three dimensional image element 14 may be a discrete body that is releasably attached to the front face 16 of the protective plate 12. Thus, the image element 14 may be attached to the front face 16 by means of, for example, a hook and loop fastener. Such a connection allows one to change the image element 14 at any desired time from, for example, a player number to a team logo. In an alternative embodiment, the discrete image element 14 may be more permanently attached to the front face 16 of the protective plate 12 by means of an appropriate adhesive. In yet another possible embodiment, the three dimensional image element 14 is integrally formed as a permanent part of the protective plate 12 as a single piece construction. This could be done by molding or other means.

In any of the embodiments, the three dimensional image element 14 may take the shape and form of any desired image including, but not limited to, a player's number and a logo. For purposes of this document, the term “logo” refers to letters, words, numbers, names, trademarks, mascots, images, stripes, designs and other three dimensional shapes that may commonly identify or are used by athletic teams, athletes and individuals.

The three dimensional image element 14 may be solid, hollow, an outline or a combination. For example, to form a “shamrock” logo, the shape of the shamrock may be cut out of a 3 mm thick piece of foam. The cut out shamrock could be pulled from the foam and adhered to the protective plate 12. The resulting image outline produced by the image element 14 in an overlying athletic sock AS would appear as a solid shamrock. In addition, the outline of the shamrock that remains in the foam can be used to show the image outline of a shamrock but instead of it being full, it is an outline of a shamrock or a hollow three dimensional image. Obviously, different widths and colors of foam may be utilized to create varying images, shadows and appearances including complex images such as an American flag.

For some images, the three dimensional image element is the same thickness throughout. However, the depth of the three dimensional image element may be manipulated to give the image outline more or less detail and definition when it projects through the exposed fabric area overlying the image element. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, while a three dimensional image element 14 of a “O” can be seen as a “O” if the entire “O” is 3 mm thick, forming the inside line L₁ of the “O” slightly higher than the outside line L₂ to create a sloped face F allows the inner circle of the “O” to show differently/more prominently and this can give it a different detail when it is seen through the clothing covering the image element. Further there are various ways to manipulate an “O” to make it appear differently while ensuring that it is an “O”. For example it can be made a perfect circle or an oval. It can be made flat versus wavy. It can be made using only the outlines of the inside and outside circles. For some images, but not all, the inside lines must be made slightly higher than those on the outside in order for the details to show through the sock covering the image element 14. Also using rounded edges can help give definition. For example an American flag can be made by rounding the red strips of the flag, omitting the white stripes, making the blue a rectangle with square edges and adding slightly raised dots for the stars. This is an example of how different processes and shaping can be used to form a three dimension image element 14 that provides the desired image outline projecting through the exposed fabric area of the sock covering the element.

The three dimensional image element 14 may be made from a number of different materials including, but not limited to foams, high density synthetic materials, foam rubbers and plastics. Particularly useful foam materials include polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam and PVC foam. Regardless of the chemical makeup it is preferred that the foam be a “closed cell” foam. In some instances the three dimensional image element 14 is made from the same material as the protective plate 12 to which it is attached so that it may be used in athletic events without increasing any risk in injury. In fact, as previously noted, the image element 14 may even be molded with the plate 12 so that the two form a unitary construction.

As should be appreciated, the three dimensional image element 14 may be punched or cut from a sheet of foam as previously described. Alternatively, the three dimensional image element 14 may be molded in a mold. The production operation utilized depends on the material being formed into an image and the intended use of the image. Logos, like college logos, mascots or trademarks could be punched or cutout from the foam. Logos such as single or entwined letters like an “S”, “OU”, “NC”, “ND”, “UK”, “3C”, etc. show through and produce the desired image whether they are solid letters, outlined letters or a combination of both. Logo images such as an eagle and cat's paw may also be easily produced.

Images or logos formed in molds may be given additional detail in certain areas that is not possible with a simple punching operation. For example, molds may help when forming rounded portions, edges and crevices. This allows the three dimensional image element 14 to produce an image outline that is often times significantly more detailed in appearance from a simple punched image. Forming the image in a mold may help give varying depths within the same image so as to make it look more realistic and provide a desired hologram-like affect to the image outline.

It should also be appreciated that the three dimensional image element 14 may be made in multiple sizes. Obviously, they can also be made of different colors depending on the desired effect. Only a portion of the entire three dimensional image element 14 may include one or more colors to enhance the image as it projects or appears through the exposed fabric area overlying the image element.

Color may be used to enhance the three dimensional effect and the produced image outline. In one possible embodiment, the sock AS worn over the image element 14 is a first color and the three dimensional image element is a second, contrasting color. In one particularly useful embodiment the sock is white or other relatively light color while the three dimensional image element 14 is a darker, contrasting color. This contrasting color arrangement has a tendency to enhance the 3D or holographic effect provided to the image outline 25 visible in the sock AS.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. 

1. A shin guard system, comprising: a protective plate having a front face and an opposite rear face, the rear face configured to face a shin of a lower leg of a wearer of the shin guard system, and the front face including a first attachment mechanism thereon; a fastener attached to the protective plate and configured to extend around the lower leg of the wearer to secure the protective plate such that the rear face of the protective plate is positioned over the shin of the wearer; and a three dimensional image element having a front side and an opposite back side, the back side including a second attachment mechanism releasably attached to the first attachment mechanism on the front face of the protective plate, and the front side of the three dimensional image element projecting outwardly from the front face of the protective plate.
 2. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional image element is in the shape of a player number.
 3. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional image element is in the shape of a logo.
 4. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the front side of three dimensional image element is tapered from a central area toward an outer edge so that the central area projects outwardly a greater distance from the front face of the protective plate than does the outer edge.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a strap.
 7. The shin guard system of claim 6, wherein the strap includes a hook and loop fastener.
 8. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a sleeve of elastic material.
 9. The shin guard system of claim 1, further including an ankle pad depending from the protective plate.
 10. The shin guard system of claim 1, further including a foot loop for securing the shin guard around a foot below the protective plate.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the first attachment mechanism of the protective plate is one of a hook or loop fastener, and wherein the second attachment mechanism of the three dimensional image element is the other of a hook or loop fastener.
 13. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms comprise an adhesive.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the front face of the protective plate is larger than the rear face of the three dimensional image element.
 16. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional image element comprises foam.
 17. The shin guard system of claim 16, wherein the foam comprises a closed cell foam.
 18. The shin guard system of claim 1, further comprising an athletic sock having an inside surface and an outside surface, a first portion of the inside surface extending over and contacting a portion of the front face of the protective plate, a second portion of the inside surface extending over and contacting the front side of the three dimensional image element, wherein the three dimensional image element causes the second portion to be deflected outwardly relative to the first portion.
 19. The shin guard system of claim 1, wherein the front face of the protective plate is a first color, and wherein the front side of the three dimensional image element is a second color. 